Edison`s Last Nuclear Plant Officially Open

August 11, 1988

Commonwealth Edison Co.`s last nuclear power generator, Braidwood II, is officially in service, the utility said Wednesday. With Braidwood II in service, Edison has 12 nuclear power generators-five more than any other utility in the country.

Announced in May, 1973, the twin-unit Braidwood station was expected to cost $1.22 billion. The facility ended up costing more than $5.05 billion, however.

Edison is seeking a $480 million rate increase to pay for Braidwood I and II and Byron II.

Braidwood II, in Will County, has been operating at 50 percent of its 1,120-megawatt capacity since July 17, two months after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued it a full-power license.

The company said it expects the unit to be generating power at full capacity later this summer.